Stalking case: Police find CCTV proof of chase

The Chandigarh Police late on Monday night said it retrieved CCTV footage that supported a disc jockey’s charge that the Haryana BJP chief’s son and his friend followed her car in a midnight chase.

The police had faced criticism earlier in the day after they said the CCTVs along the route were not working.

“The Chandigarh Police have retrieved footage of five CCTV cameras on the route, capturing the chase of victim’s vehicle by the alleged vehicle of the accused,” a Chandigarh Police officer told HT. The footage showed the victim’s car being followed by a white SUV, he said.

The footage is vital to proving the charge that BJP leader Subhash Barala’s son Vikas and his friend Ashish Kumar followed 29-year-old Varnika Kundu as she was driving home on August 4 at around 12.30am.

Battling accusations of hushing up the stalking incident that has sparked nationwide anger and raised questions over women safety, the Centre asked for a report from the Chandigarh administration.

“Even before you have registered a case under correct sections, the CCTV footage has gone. Does it not show that the union government is giving diktats to protect the Haryana BJP president and his son?” Congress leader Randeep Singh Surjewala said earlier in the day.

The Chandigarh Police, which reports to the Centre, was protecting Subhash Barala and Vikas, he said.

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